Being an MP is no medal; it’s a responsibility: Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi

Actor and former member of Parliament, Shabana Azmi, has spoken in support of those who are criticising cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and actor Rekha for their poor show as MPs.

With Tendulkar’s leave now approved, he will effectively have not attended the present Rajya Sabha session at all, while Rekha has also showed up sparingly. Azmi says it’s a serious matter.

There have always been absentcelebrity MPs, but why are Sachin and Rekha particularly under the scanner?I think they’ve always been under scrutiny. In this case, they are high-profile people and their attendance has been very low.

But politics isn’t their primary profession.I think they should not accept the position unless they are going to be able to contribute. It’s not a medal that is being put on you; it’s a responsibility. I ask the ones who nominated them — what did you expect from them?

They are just as questionable as the poor attenders. It’s very, very important that whether a celebrity or not, you remember that you are a member of Parliament, you have a responsibility, and that you fulfil that obligation. The least you can do is attend the sessions.

But handling two professions can be difficult.Then they shouldn’t have accepted it! They should have said, ‘At this particular moment, thank you very much, I’m deeply honoured but I’m engaged.’